OBITUARY.

Otago Witness, Issue 3336, 20 February 1918, Page 36

OBITUARY.

DR. 11. D. BEDFORD DROWNED. WHILE BATHING- AT WHANGAREI. Private advice was received in 'Duncdin on Sunday from the Rev, J. Dawson, secretary of tho Now Zealand Alliance, that Dr Bedford had been drowned at Whangarei while bathing in the morning, and that the body had been recovered two hours later. Dr Bedford was on a lecturing tour with Mr Dawson in the district north of Auckland. The receipt of the news of Dr Bedford's death in Duncdin came as a' great shock to all those acquainted with him, for ho had left his mark upon the community. Even pcoplo who had not found it possible to reconcile themselves with his views on certain public questions frankly admitted that his death caused a gaping void in the city which it would be difficult to fill. Dr Bedford was born in Leeds, Yorkshire, in 1877, and was thus 41 yeaj» of age. He was the son of Mr Walter Scott Bedford, who arrived in New Zealand in 18S6 with his wife and family. Dr Bedford received his early education at the Morley Public School and the Invcrcargill Public School. He joined his father in the tailoring trade on leaving school, but subsequently had a turn at farming and blacksmithing. Later he matriculated, and studied law in Wellington and Aucklad. He won the oratory prize at the Auckland University. In 1899 he was chosen as the Macandrew scholar for political economy at the Otago University. In. 1901 he took his B.A. degree, and in the following year graduated as a master of arts with honours in nolitical science. In 1901, when the death of Mr Arthur Morrison, M.H.R., brought about a bye-election in Cavel'sham, ho offered himself as a candidate, but, unknown in' the _ district, possessed of neither means and influence, and supported by no organisation, he was easily defeated. Mr T. K. Sidey, entering Parliament for the first time, was at the head of the poll with 1620 votes, and the other candidates were Mr W. Earnsha.w (1515), Mr P. Hally (1120). Mr Bedford (149), Mr W. H. Warren (122), and Mr J. J. Meikle (27). Mr Bedford's eloquence and grit, however, created a highly favourable impression, and in the following year, at the general election, he achieved a dramatic success, being elected the senior member for Dunedin. He stood as an Independent Liberal, and polled the remarkable total of 10,060 votes, or nearly 2000 more than was gained by any other candidate in New Zealand. Mr J. A. Millar and Mr J. F. Arnold being returned as his colleague:"*. His victory was all the more extraordinary because at tho time he was only 25 years of age, and still practically a University student. Naturally he was at the time a popular idol among his fellow-students, who shone in tho reflected glory of his meteoric success and composed ecstatic capping songs to his honour. In Parliament he associated himself with the sensational, if shortlived New Liberty Party. ' He was defeated at the 1905 election, when he contested Dunedin North with Mr A. R. Barclay, and did not stand again till he challenged tho Hon. J. A. Millar's occupancy of tho Dunedin Central scat in 1911. Mr J. W: Munro was the Labour candidate in an exciting triangular contest, in which a second ballot was necessary, Mr Bedford being then defeated by 4461 votes to 3822. In 1906 Mr Bedford took his Bachelor of Laws degree, and in 1910 ho gained the degree of Master of Laws. For nine years ho practised as a solicitor, being a member of tho firm of Aslin and Bedford. He was all the time a keen student of political economy and history, and he lectured on the first-mentioned subject at th<j Otago University for several years, until his appointment as a professor in 1915. He was awarded the degree of Doctor of Literature in 1916 for a treatise on "Banking Practice in New Zealand." The same year he wrote and had published in the Economic Journal an instructive paper entitled "The Monetary Difficulties of Early Colonisation in New Zealand." He was a very" fine platform speaker, and did valiant service in the cause of no-license. Ho was, in addition, an effective preacher. Upon receiving a chair in tho University of Otago he entered into his work with the utmost enthusiasm. His classes increased in number* each year, and the students were much indebted to him for the valuable assistance ho gavo them, not only in class, but before and after lectures. Nothing seemed a trouble to him, and in this way he endeared himself to those with whom he came into contact. Twelve months ago, when tho Otago University closed for the summer vacation, ho joined the Y.M.C.A. staff and went to England with one of the reinfoiviernent drafts, and during tho voyage he helped to make things pleasant for the Sflldiers by getting up and arranging entertainments' for their benefit. Dr Bedford took a very live interest in all public matters, and his great gifts of . oratory were utilised on many occasions at patriotic- meetings since* tho outbreak of war.- He actively associated himself with the Duncdin branch of tho Workers' Educational Association and lectured to classes formed by it during tho winter months. He contributed articles to certain newspapers on war finance and economic questions. He was married to a daughter of Mr S. N. Brown,- of Dunedin, and his wife and four young children are left to mourn their loss. Much sympathy will bo extended to the bereaved relatives on the untimely death of ono who has been cut off while in the prime of life and with a bright future before him.

DROWNED IN THE MAIR POOL. AUCKLAND, February 18,

News was received las', evening of the death bv drowning a* Whangcre: early yesterday 'morning of Dr Bedford, Professor of Economics and History at Otago University. Dr Bedford arrived in Auckland about January 23 . on a lecturing tour in tlie interests of temperance. He had at several centres, and he was to have addressed a public meeting in the Auckland Town Hall on Wednesday evening. He reached Whangarci on Saturday evening in company with the Rev. John Dawson, secretary of the New Zealand Alliance. He was the guest of the Rev. E. Clark, Methodist minister. _ He left the house early yesterday morning; with the intention of bathing in the Mair Pool (still water in the Hatca River.), which is a favourite resort of swimmers. He met Mr R. Cooper, a local resident, coming away from the pool. Mr Cooper pointed out to him the dangerous apots and currents. Mr Cooper had not proceeded far when he heard cries for help. Hurrying back, bo

reached the Mair Pool just as Professor Bedford was einking. Although only an indifferent swimmer, Mr Oooper attempted to rescue the drowning man. His efforts, however, were unavailing, and he ran for help, returning with several swimmers, who attempted to recover the body by diving. After several futile attempts the police were sent for, and the body was recovered two hours later by dragging the pool with nets. THE INQUEST. WHANGAREI, February 18.. The coroner's verdiot was that death wa9 due to drowning. The evidence failed to disclose ill-health or any external injury. The coroner added that the swimming place appeared to be treacherous, and the authorities should take note thereof. PULPIT REFERENCES. MORAY PLACE CONGREGATIONAL OHUBCH. The news of the tragio accident spread with amazing rapidity through the town on Sunday, arid leeling reference was made to it in a great many oity and suburban pup its at bhb evening Bea-vioea. 'xhe Hon. Geo. Fowids, of Auckland, who was present at the Moray Piaoo Church, was invited by the minister, the Rev. W. Saunders, to say a few words as an old friend and colleague of Dr Bedford, regarding the loss the country had sustained by his death. Mr Saunders himself paid a warm tribute to Dr Bedford, dwelling specially on hi 3 works as a prophet and his splendid insistence upon the moral and spiritual. Mr Fowids said the death of Dr Bedford was a great loss, not only to the University of Otago, the City of Dunedin, but also to the dominion of Now Zealand as a whole. He had the privilege of knowing Dr Bedford intimately as a young student at the Auckland University College, was closely associated with him in the Parliament of New Zealand, and hud watched with interest the development of his work as a professor of the Otago University. In all these positions he displayed the same splendid qualities of heart and head which en.deared him to all who came into intimate relationship to him. He was gfted intellectually far above the average man, and coupled with his mental ability and ofldeal integrity and a courage and fearlessness which never faltered in the discharge of what he deemed to be his duty. No thought of self-interest ever influenced him in the slightest degree. He was filled with a burning passion for righteousness and justice. Every movement which had for its object the elevation of mankind on the mental; moral, and material plane had in him an enthusiastic and intelligent supporter. His had been occupied in strenuous service in the interest of his iellowmen, and he had laid down his life in that service. At the close of the service Mr Cook, presiding at the organ, played Beethoven's "Funeral March." St. Andrew's Church. In St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last night, prior to the singing, of the hymn "God Moves in a Mysterious Way," Dr Waddell pointed out that those words had had a very startling illustration. He deeply regretted to say that word had come through that Professor Bedford had been drowned at Whangarei. It surely was a mysterious thing that one in the prime of life, with such great, possibilities of good in him should thus be carried away out of our midst so suddenly and so sadly. He did not wish to say anything just then relative to it. Professor Bedford's life was lived among them for many- years. They knew the position that he held in the community. They could only say that every good cause in the community had lost one of its foremost and most eloquent advocates. Knox Church. At Knox Church last evening the Rev. R. E. Davies referred in feeling terms to the sudden death of Dr Bedford. This, he said, was a great national loss. His death would be felt in a peculiar way by the congregation in Knox Church, as it was in that church that he preached his last sermon in Dunedin before going north on his mission on a temperance crusade." Dr Bedford had come to the speaker's assistance in the month of October during his illness, and he had listened to his preaching with great delight. Dr Bedford had subsequently occupied that pulpit for a number of Sundays, and was well known to the congregation, which had learned to appreciate the high character of his preaching. He was a man with a passion for righteousness, with a clear and definite vision, without being visionary. He had the gift of lucid speech and the possession of powers of exposition that were quite unusual. This enabled him to proclaim to the public those eternal principles which he found expressed on the pages of history, and which he endeavoured to apply to the problems of our present day. He was a man of the people, a democrat risen . from the ranks. He had attained to the chair of history in the University of Otago at what might be thought an early age. Ho had, however, not i-etired into the seclusion of scholarship, but still remained the people's tribune. His study of history strengthened his faith in God and man, and deepened' his convictions. He was a powerful exponent of evangelical truth, which enabled him to manifest a very rare combination —a man of undoubted scholarship and a keen appreciation of the evangel. died at the beginning of his work. The hymn "Now the Labourer's Task Is O'er" was sung by the congregation at the conclusion of these remarks. Methodist Churches. Reference was made in all the Methodist Churches in the evening to the death of Dr Bedford, who, had he been spared, would have represented the Mosgiel Methodist Church at the annua] Conference which meets here this month. According to present arrangements, Dr Bedford's body will reach Dunedin on Thursday night. Resolutions deploring the death of Dr Bedford and expressing sympathy with tho bereaved family and relatives were passed by the Dunedin Chamber of Commcroe, St. Kilda Borough Council, and other publio bodies, and feeling reference to the sad accident was made in the Methodist Churches in tho Taieri district.